Graduate Catalog - Shippensburg University

Student MattersResignation, Dismissal, or Academic ProbationA graduate assistant may resign from a GA position during thecourse of a semester. Any hours worked prior to resignation must berecorded on the student payroll and paid to the student.A student who resigns will have tuition waiver prorated basedon the number of hours actually worked. For example, if a graduateassistant works 50 hours and then resigns, only 20 percent (50/250)of the tuition will be waived. The student will then be billed for theremaining 80 percent.A student who withdraws from classes and no longer meets theacademic load requirements will be dismissed from the assistantship.Compensation and tuition waiver policies are the same as those for aresignation.At the discretion of the GA supervisor, a graduate assistant maybe dismissed from a position. The GA supervisor must notify his/hersupervisors (for example, the department chair, the academic dean,Vice President for Student Affairs) and the Dean of Graduate Studiesin writing of the decision and the reasons for it. Compensationand tuition waiver policies are the same as those for a resignation.It may be possible for a student to continue in a GA position whileon academic probation after consulting with the student’s graduatecoordinator. A coordinator could decide not to support the continuationif it is felt that the competencies, skills, and requirements of theGA position cannot be met by a student on probation.When students are unable to resolve issues related to their SPP/GA positions by talking with their supervisors, students are encouragedto contact the supervisor’s supervisor. This could be the departmentchair, the dean, or another individual. The Graduate Dean’sOffice can provide this information upon request.Student Payroll PositionsStudent Payroll Positions (SPPs) are administered through theGraduate Dean’s Office. Students working in SPPs earn hourly wagesat the current minimum wage rate but are not eligible for tuitionwaivers. Priority for hiring is given to graduate students, but unfilledpositions will be available to undergraduate students near the beginningof the semester. All SPPs are posted at ship.edu/Graduate/Assistantships/and are identified in job titles as “...SPP-no tuition waiver.”Appointments are awarded each semester on a competitive basis andwithout regard to financial need.Students may be employed in two SPPs at the same time, or theymay be employed in one GA position and one SPP at the same time.However, a student may not hold two GA positions at the same time.Students must be in good academic standing by maintaining aQPA of at least 2.0. Graduate students must be enrolled, full-timeor part-time for the academic year. Undergraduate students must beenrolled full-time for the academic year. Summer enrollment is notnecessary. Students must be enrolled during the previous spring orscheduled for the upcoming fall.Residence DirectorsResidence Directors supervise the eight residence halls or apartmentsfor students living in campus housing. General responsibilitiesinclude supervising undergraduate staff members, respondingto student needs and issues, serving as an emergency on-call person,working with camps and conferences, advising student groups, assistingin hall maintenance processes, implementing programs and services,and participating in the adjudication of conduct code violations.Residence Directors also perform a variety of tasks within the Officeof the Dean of Students.Residence Directors must be enrolled in a graduate program duringtheir period of employment. Hiring preference is given to individualsenrolled in the counseling program, with special considerationgiven to those with a student personnel emphasis. Previous experienceworking within a residence hall or some other related aspect ofstudent personnel work is preferred. Strong interpersonal skills, plusan interest in and an understanding of working with undergraduatestudents are required.The Residence Director position is a 12-month appointment. Inaddition to a salary (contact the Office of the Dean of Students forspecifics), Residence Directors receive a free apartment and mealplan. Additionally, Residence Directors receive a tuition waiver forsix credits per semester and three credits per summer. In order to balanceacademic and professional success, Residence Directors are notauthorized to exceed the aforementioned credit limits, thus limitingthem to a maximum of 15 graduate credits per year.Applications and additional information may be obtained by contactingthe Office of the Dean of Students.LoansFederal Direct Stafford Loans are available to matriculatedgraduate students who are taking at least 6 credits per semester. Inorder to qualify, a student must complete the Free Application forFederal Student Aid (FAFSA) and a Federal Direct Stafford Loanapplication.There are two types of Stafford Loans: subsidized and unsubsidized.The subsidized loan is interest-free while the student is inschool. The student is charged interest on the unsubsidized loanwhile in school, and may opt to pay it as it accrues, or allow it to accrueand capitalize. Eligibility for the interest subsidy and the amountof the loan will depend upon the student’s financial need (as determinedby the results of the FAFSA) and other resources available tothe student.Graduate students are billed for tuition and fees at the time ofregistration. If the student has applied for a Federal Direct StaffordLoan to cover those charges, payment may be deferred until the loanfunds arrive. The student should indicate on the tuition bill that aloan is pending, and return it to the Student Accounts Office.Students interested in additional financial aid information shouldvisit the Financial Aid website.Academic Progress Requirements forGraduate Student Federal AidFederal regulations require graduate students make satisfactoryacademic progress towards the completion of a degree in order tomaintain their eligibility for the following programs: Federal StaffordLoan, Federal Work Study, and Federal Perkins Loan.At Shippensburg University, in order to make satisfactory academicprogress for federal financial aid purposes, a full-time graduatestudent must complete 18 new credits per year and maintain a 3.0cumulative QPA. A part-time student must meet identical minimumQPA requirements and must complete 80 percent of all attemptedcredits each year.Students will be notified at the close of each spring semester iffinancial aid eligibility is terminated due to unsatisfactory academicprogress. The student may resolve the situation by taking summercourses (without federal aid), or if extenuating circumstances exist,file an appeal to have eligibility for federal funding reinstated.Veteran’s BenefitsThe university is approved for training veterans under the MontgomeryG.I. Bill as administered by the Veterans Administration. Forfurther information, contact the Dean of Students Office or go toship.edu/veterans.HousingBeginning with the 2012-13 academic year, campus housing forgraduate students will be provided on a “Space Availability” basis.Graduate students interested in living on campus should contact theHousing Office at (717) 477-1701.29